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Today in Boston Celtics history, Hall of Fame head coach and executive Red Auerbach announced that the legendary Boston center Bill Russell would succeed him as coach.
Earlier in the season, Auerbach made it known that the 1965-66 NBA regular season would be his final one as head coach of the Celtics. Following the loss in Game 1 of the 1966 NBA Finals, he let it be known that Russell would take over the position from him. The Louisiana native made history as the first Black head coach of any major professional sports team in North America, not just in basketball, and Boston won the 1966 NBA title with Russell at the helm.
Auerbach stayed on as the team's general manager until late in the 1980s, and remained involved in team affairs until he passed away in 2006.
It is the date the Celtics drafted shooting guard legend Sam Jones in the 1957 NBA Draft. Selected eighth overall, Jones had played his college ball at North Carolina Central and went on to a storied career with Boston.
The North Carolinian won 10 titles with the Celtics, trailing only Bill Russell in total number of rings, and was elected to five All-Star Games between 1962 and 1968.
It is the birthday of early Boston big man Andy Duncan, who played a total of 14 games for the Celtics in the 1950-51 NBA season. Born in 1922, the former William and Mary player averaged 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.6 in his short stint with Boston.
It is also the birthday of former Celtics center Theo Ratliff, who was born on this day in 1973 in Demopolis, Alabama. Ratliff was traded to Boston in 2006 by the Portland Trail Blazers. Ratliff played two games for the Celtics due to back problems before being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 2.5 points, 3.5 boards, and 1.5 blocks per contest over that brief run with Boston.
It is the birthday of small forward Ed Searcy, another Celtics short-timer who played four games for Boston in 1975. Searcy, born in 1952 in New York City, averaged 1.5 points and 0.3 assists in that stint and in the most technical sense possible, won a championship with the team -- though he was long gone by the time the playoffs began.
Finally, Searcy, Ratliff, and Duncan share their birthday with Matt Ryan. He was another Boston short-timer, appearing in just one regular season game for the Celtics. The White Plains, New York native was born this day in 1997 and played his college ball at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Chattanooga before joining Boston to fill a two way slot. Ryan logged 3 points in his sole game with the Celtics.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Red names Bill Russell coach; Sam Jones drafted
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Earlier in the season, Auerbach made it known that the 1965-66 NBA regular season would be his final one as head coach of the Celtics. Following the loss in Game 1 of the 1966 NBA Finals, he let it be known that Russell would take over the position from him. The Louisiana native made history as the first Black head coach of any major professional sports team in North America, not just in basketball, and Boston won the 1966 NBA title with Russell at the helm.
Auerbach stayed on as the team's general manager until late in the 1980s, and remained involved in team affairs until he passed away in 2006.
Transactions
It is the date the Celtics drafted shooting guard legend Sam Jones in the 1957 NBA Draft. Selected eighth overall, Jones had played his college ball at North Carolina Central and went on to a storied career with Boston.
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The North Carolinian won 10 titles with the Celtics, trailing only Bill Russell in total number of rings, and was elected to five All-Star Games between 1962 and 1968.
Birthdays
It is the birthday of early Boston big man Andy Duncan, who played a total of 14 games for the Celtics in the 1950-51 NBA season. Born in 1922, the former William and Mary player averaged 2.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.6 in his short stint with Boston.
It is also the birthday of former Celtics center Theo Ratliff, who was born on this day in 1973 in Demopolis, Alabama. Ratliff was traded to Boston in 2006 by the Portland Trail Blazers. Ratliff played two games for the Celtics due to back problems before being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He averaged 2.5 points, 3.5 boards, and 1.5 blocks per contest over that brief run with Boston.
You must be registered for see images attach
It is the birthday of small forward Ed Searcy, another Celtics short-timer who played four games for Boston in 1975. Searcy, born in 1952 in New York City, averaged 1.5 points and 0.3 assists in that stint and in the most technical sense possible, won a championship with the team -- though he was long gone by the time the playoffs began.
Finally, Searcy, Ratliff, and Duncan share their birthday with Matt Ryan. He was another Boston short-timer, appearing in just one regular season game for the Celtics. The White Plains, New York native was born this day in 1997 and played his college ball at Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, and Chattanooga before joining Boston to fill a two way slot. Ryan logged 3 points in his sole game with the Celtics.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics history: Red names Bill Russell coach; Sam Jones drafted
Continue reading...
